Interesting French Hiv Life Expectancy Study

[Digger]

For the first time, a cohort study of people with HIV has found that a fairly substantial proportion of patients – namely those who maintain a CD4 cell count of over 500 cells/mm3 – have a death rate that is not significantly greater than the in general HIV-negative population.

The study analysed the mortality rate of 2279 patients in the Aquitaine Cohort, which comprises patients prospectively enrolled since 1987 in a hospital-based surveillance system of HIV infection in southwestern France. The selected patients had all started protease inhibitor -based antiretroviral therapy between 1997 and 1999 and their mortality rates were followed up until June 2003.

Of these patients, 549 (24%) were defined as Favourable Responders. This meant they had, to quote the study, “at least two CD4 counts over 500, no count under 500 and no viral load over 10,000 in the year preceding the last available data.”

Of these favourable responders, seven (0.7%) died. When compared to people in the general population of the same gender and similar age, this mortality rate was only 10% above normal – a non-significant difference. This yielded a ‘standardised mortality ratio’ (SMR) of 1.1.

Patients maintaining CD4 cell counts over 350 but under 500 cells/mm3 in the year before the last data had an annual death rate of 0.9%, yielding a SMR of 3.1, meaning that they were just over three times as likely to die as the general public; those with CD4 cell counts over 200 but under 350 cells/mm3 had a SMR of 4.8; and those with CD4 cell counts under 200 cells/mm3 had an SMR of 23.6.

The overall death rate in the group was 2.2% or 8 times what one would expect in the general population. Only half of the deaths were due to AIDS-related conditions.

The researchers merely conclude by pointing out that favourable treatment responders had the same mortality rates as the general population. However this study should add further to the evidence that people living with HIV who are on successful antiretroviral therapy or have good CD4 cell counts should not be treated as ineligible for life-insurance.

Reference

Lewden C. Responders to antiretroviral treatment over 500 CD4/mm3 reach same mortality rates as general population: APROCO and Aquitaine Cohorts, 10th European AIDS Conference, France, abstract PE18.4/8, 2005.

[Ice Maiden]

This is very good news, it just goes to show that we are on our way with defeating HIV/AIDS

[Digger]

Not defeating, but managing is probably a better word to use - HIV/AIDS still has no cure - medicines control the growth of the virus but they cannot eliminate it completely from the body in difficult to get to areas such as the brain, lymph nodes etc.

Having said that, its good news for people who have access to medicines and statistically confirms the general prognosis of HIV doctors - with access to medicines and good health care, a HIV patient is now considered to be living for as long as their peer group and to die of something not directly related to their HIV condition.

[Ice Maiden]

Not defeating, but managing is probably a better word to use - HIV/AIDS still has no cure - medicines control the growth of the virus but they cannot eliminate it completely from the body in difficult to get to areas such as the brain, lymph  nodes etc.

Having said that, its good news for people who have access to medicines and statistically confirms the general prognosis of HIV doctors - with access to medicines and good health care, a HIV patient is now considered to be living for as long as their peer group and to die of something not directly related to their HIV condition.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is still great news that we are finding a way to cope nevertheless.

[dantilley]

Actually, there was a guy in the UK recently who fully recovered from HIV. Seems like we may be on the way to defeating it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4432564.stm

[SURVIVOR]

For the first time, a cohort study of people with HIV has found that a fairly substantial proportion of patients – namely those who maintain a CD4 cell count of over 500 cells/mm3 – have a death rate that is not significantly greater than the in general HIV-negative population.

The study analysed the mortality rate of 2279 patients in the Aquitaine Cohort, which comprises patients prospectively enrolled since 1987 in a hospital-based surveillance system of HIV infection in southwestern France. The selected patients had all started protease inhibitor -based antiretroviral therapy between 1997 and 1999 and their mortality rates were followed up until June 2003.

Of these patients, 549 (24%) were defined as Favourable Responders. This meant they had, to quote the study, “at least two CD4 counts over 500, no count under 500 and no viral load over 10,000 in the year preceding the last available data.”

Of these favourable responders, seven (0.7%) died. When compared to people in the general population of the same gender and similar age, this mortality rate was only 10% above normal – a non-significant difference. This yielded a ‘standardised mortality ratio’ (SMR) of 1.1.

Patients maintaining CD4 cell counts over 350 but under 500 cells/mm3 in the year before the last data had an annual death rate of 0.9%, yielding a SMR of 3.1, meaning that they were just over three times as likely to die as the general public; those with CD4 cell counts over 200 but under 350 cells/mm3 had a SMR of 4.8; and those with CD4 cell counts under 200 cells/mm3 had an SMR of 23.6.

The overall death rate in the group was 2.2% or 8 times what one would expect in the general population. Only half of the deaths were due to AIDS-related conditions.

The researchers merely conclude by pointing out that favourable treatment responders had the same mortality rates as the general population. However this study should add further to the evidence that people living with HIV who are on successful antiretroviral therapy or have good CD4 cell counts should not be treated as ineligible for life-insurance.

Reference

Lewden C. Responders to antiretroviral treatment over 500 CD4/mm3 reach same mortality rates as general population: APROCO and Aquitaine Cohorts, 10th European AIDS Conference, France, abstract PE18.4/8, 2005.

Yes, there is now a Medicinal Tea from China AVAILABLE in Thailand against HIV/AIDS.

The tea is called : REVIVO

It's only available at the TIANZI TEA HOUSE, 119/1 Kampangdin Rd. Chang Mai

...opposite the Mae Ping Imperial Hotel.

Also directly available from China. Please visit : www.natureproducts.net

...go to Herbal Medicine first to find REVIVO....and enjoy the whole website as well!!!!

Good luck everyone!

[backflip]

How about the great American hero, Magic Johnson? Magic contracted HIV, from a prostitute, and that developed into AIDs. With a rigorous protocol, he had lived more than a decade with AIDs. He's a real hero. Fortunately, he didn't pass the infection to either his wife or his child. But, man, what a hero!